Golden Eagles grounded in Lexington

The Golden Eagles took a pair of tough road losses as it fell to Kentucky 9-0 in five innings and 4-3 in 10 innings.

Game two of Saturday's doubleheader saw Kentucky grab the early lead as it scored an unearned run in the bottom of the second off Tech starter Holly Thomas.

The Golden Eagle offense responded quickly in the top of the third as five straight batters reached, including a pair of RBI hits from Brittney Spalding and Callie Schmidt, to take the lead at 2-1.

Tech added another run in the top of the fourth on an RBI triple from Melody Christian, but Kentucky answer right back in the bottom of the frame with solo home run from UK's Rachel Riley, to pull back within one at 3-2.

A Wildcat RBI single in the bottom of the sixth knotted up the score at three, as the game went into extra innings.

Holly Thomas, who pitched eight innings while striking out six, was lifted for Claudia Harke in the bottom of the ninth. Harke managed to get out of a two-out jam in the bottom of the ninth, but Kentucky's Samantha DeMartine hit a walk-off home run to center field in the bottom of the 10th to take the game 4-3.

Chanda Bell came away the winner as she pitched 7.2 innings, to improve to 11-5 on the season. Harke took her second loss of the day as she pitched one inning, while striking out one.

Tech opened the doubleheader with a 9-0 loss in five innings. UK's Lauren Cumbess won her fifth game of the season, while Harke took the loss, giving up a two runs in as many innings.

At the plate, Tech managed just three hits off the bats of Christian, Chanelle Spalding and Schmidt.

Tech (16-21, 7-11 OVC) continues its road trip Wednesday, as it takes on Jacksonville State in a conference doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.